Two Degrees
by Alan Gratz
Realistic Fiction
Thriller
Review #1
* * * * Stars (Great!)
“Two Degrees” follows three distinct storylines of young people facing the devastating immediate effects of climate change: Akira battling a massive wildfire in California, Owen and George escaping starving polar bears on the melting Canadian tundra, and Natalie struggling to survive a catastrophic hurricane in Miami. Though separated by vast distances, their harrowing survival experiences ultimately connect them and highlight the urgent global impact of rising temperatures.
I like “Two Degrees” for its thrilling, action-packed survival stories that effectively highlight the urgent realities of climate change for a middle-grade audience, but I dislike that the didactic nature of the climate message can sometimes overshadow character development or that the resolutions feel a bit too convenient. For middle and high school teens.
